Two teachers from Burnham and Highbridge have been recognised for their work when they received awards at a ceremony in Bath this week.
Sheila Bellingham from St Joseph’s Primary School in Burnham (pictured right) and Martyn Ellis from Highbridge’s King Alfred School (above) received top recognition for their work at the West of England Teaching Awards.
The ceremony was held in Bath’s Assembly Rooms on Tuesday and the event was presented by BBC Points West presenter Ali Vowels.
Martyn, who teaches GCSE and A-level history, picked up a distinction in the Guardian Award for Teacher of the Year in a Secondary School and also won the GTC Award for Excellence in Professional Development. Mr Ellis was up against two other teachers and started his career at the school in 1995 and was nominated by one of his pupils.
Sheila, who has been at St Joseph’s RC Primary School and nursery in Burnham since 1990, scooped a commendation in the Special Needs Teacher of the Year award. She was put forward by a mother of one of her pupils. The Teaching Awards were founded by Lord Puttnam in 1998 to focus on teachers who have positive effects on pupils.
Bath’s Assembly Rooms provided the impressive backdrop for the swish event
Celebrating – Keith and Sheila Bellingham from Burnham-On-Sea